Health headlines

Stroke breakthrough
A TRIAL by Australian researchers showing promising results from the use of the thrombolytic drug tenecteplase in acute ischaemic stroke has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers found that tenecteplase, indicated for use in acute myocardial infarction, was associated with significantly better reperfusion and clinical outcomes than alteplase in stroke patients. The research was reported by the Newcastle Herald.

Resistant pertussis strains
UNIVERSITY of NSW researchers have blamed Australia’s prolonged pertussis epidemic on two new strains resistant to the current vaccine, in research published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. They found the emerging resistant genotype, responsible for 31% of cases in the 10 years before the epidemic, was the infectious agent in 84% of almost 200 samples collected from patients in several Australian states in 2008‒2010. The research was reported by The West Australian.

Test predicts MI
US researchers say they have discovered a test that shows promise in predicting acute myocardial infarction. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, indicated that circulating endothelial cell counts may serve as a promising clinical measure for the prediction of atherosclerotic plaque rupture events. The research was reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Dementia deaths double
LATEST statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer disease have more than doubled in the past 10 years, accounting for 6.3% of all deaths in 2010 compared to 2.9% in 2001. Lung cancer was responsible for the most deaths caused by cancer, representing 20% of deaths from malignant cancers and 5.6% of all deaths. The research was reported by ABC News.

Better peanut allergy test
VICTORIAN researchers have found that the sensitivity of Ara h 2 plasma sIgE tests correctly identified 60% of infants with true peanut allergy compared with only 26% correctly identified by using whole peanut plasma sIgE. The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found the Ara h 2 plasma sIgE test could replace risky oral food challenge tests currently used to distinguish peanut allergy from peanut intolerance. The research was reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Ibuprofen reduces altitude sickness
AN over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug can reduce altitude sickness, according to research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The 86 participants in the study were randomly allocated to receive ibuprofen or a placebo three times daily, starting 6 hours before ascent from 1240 m to 3810 m. The researchers found ibuprofen reduced the severity and incidence of altitude illness. The research was reported by ABC News.